Morning journal and courier., 1887-06-06
TO BE FORTIFIED.

A Look At the War Department
 Records Bearing Upon the Subject
 of the Coming FortffacatIons For
 the Port of New Haven-TAe Break
 water-The Geodetfc Survey Nearly
 Completed.
 In an interview with Captain Charles H. Townshend regarding the status of the na- tional action as to the fortifcation of New Haven harbor, which he recently investigated while on visit to Washington, Captain Townsnend said: Through the courtesy of Colonel Houston, United States engineer, the officer in charge of the Long Island coast inc terest, was permit ted access to the records Notifications or other defenses, appointed by the President under the provision of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1885, and signed Wm Endicott, secretary of war, 1886, that the board has been given list of ports and places to be fortified. and New Haven stands No. 27 on the list in order of impor- tance and urgency. On page 20 of the report is given what Notifications are recommended for New Haven port. These include three eight-inch calibre thirteen-ton guns, and eight twelve-inch mortars, the largest sized, and various other Notifications which, with
 
 total of $473, ,000 which is the amount recommended The officers of tho board of Notifications consists of the following well known able men of national fame: Wm. c. Endicott, secretary of war; 5. V. Bennett, bripadier general and chief of ordnance: engineers; Henry L. Abbott, lieutenant colo neI of engineers; Charles S.. Smith, captain of ordnance; w. T. Samson, commander U. s. navy; c. T. Goodrich, commander U. s. navy; Joseph Morgan, Erastus Corning and Edward Mcguire. Cap tain Townshend said further: New Haven's need for suitable Notifications is thus being favorably considered, and with the present lively national feeling demanding an increase of coast defences the outlook is good for 8 consummation of the desired work, and at no distant day. Much honor is due Senators Hawley and Platt for their important and valuable aid in this matter. In case of an attack by foreign foe upon our city we are defenseless and our immense manufactures and our big railroad property would be at the mercy of an enemy's guns, and freights would be diverted from our shore to inland railroads.
 A word in regard to our breakwater. The work upon it progresses slowly. There is yet 40, 900 tons of rock to be put into it un- der the old appropriation. It is hoped that our city fathers will, emulating the example in other cities of importance, unitedly urge upon Congress the need of & further appro- priation sufficient for the completion of the east breakwater at least.
 Captain Townshend being enqu fred of as to the state of thegeodetic and typographical re- survey of Long Island Sound stated that this important work is progressing finely, and had reached such stage that it was expected that it will be finished in two years. They have finished the work about New Haven. It has just been completed by corps of of fcers of the United States coast survey on the schooner Gedney, Lieutenant Crosby commanding. Impor- tant points on land like the soldiers monu- ment and steeples will be faithfully located on the charts, and this will benefit not alone the particular objects for which the resurvey is made, but will prove of much practical utility to the owners of our oyster dredging fleet of steamers, enabling them to definitely locate their land; and to vessels also navigat- ing the Sound for the purpose of triangula- tion for taking ranges.